**Arrival **
The tour starts in Caen. Caen is located in north-western France, in the region of Normandy. It lies just inland from the English Channel, about 15 km from the coast, and roughly 240 km west of Paris.
There are frequent trains from Paris to Caen. Most services are direct Intercités or TER trains from Paris Saint-Lazare, with a journey time of around 2 to 2.5 hours. Trains run regularly throughout the day, making this a straightforward and reliable route, with tickets available via SNCF Connect, Trainline, or at the station.
By car, Caen is approximately 2 hours 45 minutes from Paris, around 5 hours 45 minutes from Bordeaux, and about 6 hours from Lyon.
The city is also served by Caen-Carpiquet Airport. However, this is a small airport only offering limited domestic flights.
**Departure **
The tour concludes in Dunkirk, a well connected coastal city.
There are regular trains from Dunkirk to Paris. You can travel either on a direct TGV, which takes around 2 hours (limited departures), or more commonly with one easy change in Lille, where the total journey time is about 2 to 2.5 hours. Trains arrive at Paris Gare du Nord, and tickets are available via SNCF Connect, Trainline, or at the station.
By car, Dunkirk is around 3 hours 15 minutes from Paris, 8 hours from Bordeaux, and about 7 hours from Lyon.